Chi Mei also recognized Spring Jian’s voice and his fighting spirit rose: “You’re the one who’s debased! You’re the most debased! You even had a child!”

“Cough- you- at least San Niang said she was willing to marry me, unlike you…” Spring Jian said between coughs.

Chi Mei also endured the severe pain of his fish tail wound bursting open and cursed: “So what? Did Xu San Niang end up marrying you? She still abandoned you. She just made up a lie and fooled you completely. You weren’t even married, and already had two children. You’re the one who’s debased!”

“That’s still better than you! She doesn’t even bother to lie to you. You’re the one shamelessly throwing yourself at her, offering yourself, and she still doesn’t want you. Haha! You deserve it, how embarrassing!” Spring Jian propped himself up and grabbed a pillow, throwing it towards the window next door. The feather-filled pillow almost hit Chi Mei’s head, and although the feather pillow was light, Jiang Yang still blocked it for him.

“Who said I don’t want him?” Jiang Yang spoke up.

Chi Mei’s angry expression suddenly froze, staring blankly at Jiang Yang, his tone clumsy: “What did you say?”

For the first time, Jiang Yang took the initiative to lower her head and gently kiss his forehead, her eyes filled with tender affection: “I’m willing to marry you.”

“…” Chi Mei was stunned for a while, and Spring Jian next door also suddenly fell silent. Finally, a flame ignited in his eyes, and he hugged her neck, ignoring the pain, shouting happily: “A Yang is willing to marry me! Dead Spring Jian, did you hear that? A Yang is willing to marry me, she truly loves me! Not like you, no one loves you!”

Jiang Yang: This stupid fish can sometimes be quite provocative, specifically poking at people’s sore spots.

Spring Jian stopped talking and buried his head in the blanket.

The two little ones outside heard this and were heartbroken. Wuwuwu, their potential stepmother had been snatched away.

—

“A Yang, you’re marrying me because you like me, right?”

“…”

“It must be because you like me, otherwise you wouldn’t marry me. So when did you start liking me?”

“…”

“On the boat? No, when we were on the boat, I confessed to you, and you got angry with me. Could it be when we were in the tree hollow? I saved you, and then you saved me, did you develop feelings for me over time? Or was it when we kissed? Or when we were in the underwater palace? Yes, it must have been in the underwater palace. I cried at that time, and you said you couldn’t bear to see me cry.”

“…”

“A Yang, when are we getting married?”

“No rush.”

“But I’m in a rush, I’m about to die from impatience. Of course, we should get married early, make it a done deal soon, in case you…” Chi Mei covered his mouth, laughing softly.

“In case what?” Jiang Yang rested her chin on her hand, her eyes twinkling like stars.

“In… anyway, I just want to get married quickly, want to have little fish babies quickly.” Chi Mei cupped his slightly red face, saying shyly.

Jiang Yang lowered her head, looking at his wound submerged in water: “Wait a bit longer.”

His wound had been healing very well during this time. Although there were still open wounds that hadn’t healed, other less severe areas had grown new flesh and new scales. But those newly grown scales were soft and had no resistance at all. Not to mention that his current physical condition wouldn’t allow him to get pregnant at all. Even if he did get pregnant, his belly would probably burst open.

Chi Mei deflated and fell into Jiang Yang’s arms: “Do we still have to wait? But I really want to get married.”

Jiang Yang chuckled: “I’ve never seen a man as impatient as you.”

“How can one not be impatient when truly in love! Others just don’t dare to say it out loud. Maybe they’re even more anxious inside, thinking about getting married quickly, getting pregnant quickly, having daughters, and living a happy life together.” Chi Mei nuzzled against her, muttering softly: “A Yang, you can’t compare me with other men. I’ll get jealous.”

Jiang Yang laughed silently, gently stroking his long hair, saying softly: “Alright, I won’t mention it anymore. I won’t bring it up in the future.”

Chi Mei planted a kiss on her face: “I knew it, A Yang, you care for me in your heart. Otherwise, you wouldn’t indulge me like this.”

Jiang Yang suddenly wanted to tease him: “Are you so sure? Maybe I’m just pretending like Xu San Niang?”

Chi Mei bit his lip, and after a moment of struggle, he smiled slightly, his clear eyes brewing with infinite love: “Then I’ll accept it.”

In the evening, after Jiang Yang lulled Chi Mei to sleep, she prepared to go out to find food.

Spring Jian, who should have been asleep, suddenly spoke, saying softly: “You really dote on him. Do you truly like him?”

Jiang Yang said: “I have no reason to compromise myself. If I didn’t truly have feelings for him, his mischief and coquetry would only make me irritated and disgusted.”

“…But if you really marry Chi Mei, the mermaid clan won’t let you off. They will definitely find a way to come ashore and take Chi Mei back.”

Jiang Yang’s eyes were cold under the moonlight: “Then let them come. I can protect my man.”

Spring Jian gazed at her across the cold moonlight, his heart suddenly clenched. San Niang, if only you had been like her back then.

“From now on, Winter’er and Summer’er will be taken care of by the two of us. You should feel more at ease now,” Jiang Yang said.

“Hmph!” Spring Jian snorted coldly: “At first, I intended to let Chi Mei take care of my two sons, but now I see he’s a foolish one who can’t even take care of himself. Entrusting them to him is worse than giving them to you. At least you have a brain and ability.”

Spring Jian had a deep prejudice against Chi Mei, and Chi Mei felt the same towards Spring Jian. The two couldn’t get along, not even having met face to face. Just being arranged in two separate rooms, they would hurl insults at each other through the windows. They must have been sworn enemies in their past lives.

Jiang Yang shook her head and smiled lightly: “Chi Mei has his own good qualities. His character is pure and he never schemes against others. He speaks his mind directly and doesn’t hold things back. Being with him doesn’t require overthinking, it just feels relaxed and comfortable. Even arguing and fighting with him feels refreshing and unrestrained. I think you must feel the same way.”

Spring Jian was suddenly speechless. It seemed that the words ‘sarcasm’ and ‘mockery’ didn’t exist in Chi Mei’s dictionary. His insults were direct, provoking Spring Jian to release years of pent-up resentment. He knew this resentment wasn’t because of Chi Mei, but rather using him as an outlet to express years of bitterness.

As a dying man, Spring Jian didn’t want to hold grudges against Chi Mei anymore. Looking at the bright moon hanging high outside the window, he thought to himself that tomorrow he would try to get along well with Chi Mei, for the sake of the children.

The next day, Chi Mei, as usual, anxiously called out when he couldn’t see Jiang Yang.